Abstract

Ninety-two prenatally depressed women were randomly assigned to yoga or a social support control group at 22 weeks gestation. The yoga group participated in a 20-minute group session (only physical poses) once per week for 12 weeks. The social support group (a leaderless discussion group) met on the same schedule. At the end of the first and last sessions, the yoga group as compared to the social support group reported less depression, anxiety, anger, back and leg pain, unlike the support group who did not show immediate effects. At the end of the treatment period, the yoga group and the support group did not differ and they both had lower summary depression (CES-D) scores, as well as lower negative effect and somatic/vegetative symptoms subscale scores on the CES-D and lower scores on the other depression measures (EPDS and POMS), lower anxiety (STAI) scores, lower anger (STAXI) scores and improved relationship quality scores. In addition, cortisol levels decreased for both groups after the sessions and at the end of the treatment period. Estriol and progesterone levels increased across the treatment period and decreased after the last session for both groups. Depression and anxiety levels also decreased for both groups at the postpartum period. Thus, this study suggests that yoga as compared to social support sessions may have greater immediate effects on depression, anger, back and leg pain, but that both yoga and social support had positive effects on depressed pregnant women over the longer term.

Highlights

  • As many as 49% of pregnant women have reported depressive symptoms, especially ethnic minorities [1,2], lower income and unmarried women [3]

  • As can be seen in table 2, repeated measures by group interaction effects suggested that the yoga group experienced several pre to post session changes in contrast to the support group who did not show any significant changes as follows: 1) decreased depression on the first and last days; 2) decreased anxiety on the first and last days; 3) decreased anger on the first day; 4) decreased back pain on the first and last days; and 5) decreased leg pain on the first day

  • As can be seen in table 3, repeated measures effects suggested that both groups showed significant changes over the course of the Depression (POMS) Anxiety (STAI) Anger (STAXI) Back Pain

Read more

Summary

Introduction

As many as 49% of pregnant women have reported depressive symptoms, especially ethnic minorities [1,2], lower income and unmarried women [3]. Prenatal depression contributes to prematurity [4], developmental delays [5], as well as behavior problems in childhood [6] and adolescence [7], highlighting the need for prenatal intervention. Antidepressants have been used by a very small percentage (1-5%) of prenatally depressed women because of the mixed data on fetal and neonatal outcomes [8,9]. These studies have been limited by small sample sizes, uncontrolled study designs and unknown long-term medication effects. Most women, even those already on antidepressants, have elected to stop taking antidepressants during pregnancy and have expressed a preference for the use of alternative therapies

Objectives
Methods
Results
Conclusion
Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call